But that's where the emotional abyss is!

Hobbling through the front door wasn’t the best idea, but no one could dissuade Logan from doing it on his own power. Besides being a bit wary with the security system after last night, it was more that he wanted to do something on his own in his space. And he COULD walk. Just. Not very well.

“If you crack your head, I’m not taking you back to the hospital,” Heather sighed, following her cousin inside with the wheelchair folded. “Just going to slap some ice on it and see what happens.”

“I’m not going to fall!” Logan huffed, making his way to the conversation pit, where his rapid descent looked more than a little bit like the fall he just said he wouldn’t be taking. He aimed successfully for the cushions, though, and rolled over to face up while catching his breath. His legs were a little wobbly, but the pain jolting through his stitches along his right side was less forgiving.

“Yeah, well, I’m going to put up the wheelchair in the coat closet. Let me know if you need it, and I’ll get it for you,” Heather followed, thinking better of going in too hard on her cousin right now. “You really should give your legs a break. It’ll be easier to use them faster if you do.”

“Being wheeled in sounded worse,” Logan said as he stared at the ceiling, then looked up at Heather as she finished storing the chair. “And I can get it myself. Way faster than you can from the manor.”

“Not going to be at the manor,” Heather told him matter-of-factly as she walked over and sat across from him. “Don’t worry, you can still drown yourself in sluts, I’ll keep out of the way.”

“You’re staying HERE?!” Logan asked. He was less indignant than … concerned. He didn’t like people seeing this. Didn’t like the pity.

“And being alone right now sounds like a super-fun idea?” she responded, tilting her head and drilling her big, blue eyes into her cousin’s. Logan didn’t answer … but pointedly so. “That’s what I thought.”

“Okay, but I don’t need a babysitter.” Logan pointed at her to emphasize his independence, though it was moderately undercut by the fact sitting all the way up was an honest challenge. “I’m a grown-ass man.”

“Sir, yes sir!” Heather exclaimed breathlessly with a taunting grin. She’d always been good at that. Taunting. Teasing. Usually to people she wanted a favor from or who she wanted to get into bed, as far as he’d seen, but he knew from experience that she had a keen, determined mind behind those talents that was practicing them for more pragmatic purposes. Of course, thinking about it too long was unwise … especially for someone as sexually-charged as Logan. Gorgeous as she was, Heather WAS still his cousin.

“Yeah, yeah,” he brushed off, looking back up at the ceiling. “How long?”

“Until you don’t need me here,” she answered, doing the same. “I want to make sure you’re good, but I’ll take your word on it. Tell me you want me gone, I’m gone.”

“No, you’re right,” Logan finally admitted. “The house feels too empty. Too quiet. I’ve never hated that before, y’know. Hate it now.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Heather sat up as she asked, leaning forward a little. Logan looked down, took a moment to intently distract himself from how her position pushed her chest out, then shook his head.

“This is good. It’s less bad with someone here. And I’m sure I’m going to get bitchy later and whine you’re in my space or we’ll fight or something, but even then … make really sure I mean it if I tell you to go. It hasn’t all … hit … yet. I think I’m still in shock. And I don’t know what I’m going to do when I come out of it.”

“Yeah, there’s hardly any sluts available to blow you without you leaving the house.”

“I have a phone. And hey, I don’t want pity, but if it comes with an easy lay, I’ll consider it,” he shrugged, joking to try to keep his mind from wandering too bleakly. “I’m sure at least Amber or Sharon would want to console me.”

“If you keep messing with both of them, you’re gong to get stabbed in the dick,” Heather groaned out.

“I have explicitly stated to both of them I have zero interest in dating right now.” Logan cast a hand to the side, then grimaced when it yanked a little too hard on his arm.

“Not saying you didn’t. I’m saying Sharon is insane, and I can totally see Amber going completely bugfuck trying to convince herself she’s okay with sharing you with any other given lady,” Heather ticked off, holding up a finger for each point. “Now, if you want to be SURE a knife gets buried in your crotch, you could always try to fuck Ashley.”

“Don’t joke, I might. She’s rebounding right now, so I’m pretty sure she’s up for something casual.”

“She might be, but Brandon.”

“I’m not scared of Brandon.”

“He might take it kind of personally and rearrange your face in a bathroom.” Logan shrugged. “You’re fu-” Heather cut herself off. “Your funeral,” wasn’t something she needed to say right now. Not with Logan having to actually put one together soon.

“You know who I miss?” Logan thought out loud, trying to steer away from the looming awkward silence. “Her sister.”

“Me, too,” Heather agreed with a smile. “You said no strings with her, you know she meant it.”

“Wait, have we both …” Logan trailed off, question all too clear.

“Obviously. I mean, I know you fucked her, I just sort of assumed it’d made it back to you I had, too,” Heather told him, raising her arms a little apologetically. “Not like we were dating, just fooled around.”

“Same.” Logan stayed monosyllabic as he tried very hard not to imagine his cousin and Hannah Woodsen rolling in the sheets together, fingers lacing through each other’s hair, backs arching as the other buried their face in her cunt, making out furiously as their hands almost competed to see who could make who cum first. It did not take a whole lot of self-inspection for Logan to realize he was doing a staggeringly bad job of it. Even with a morning blowjob, he was feeling pent up with stress and uncertainty. Maybe he SHOULD call someone …

“Okay, I’m going to order food. And I’m going to school tomorrow, I just figured no one will care if I miss a day taking care of you. Anything sound good?” she asked, unlocking her phone and scanning over delivery apps. She tilted her head from behind it to make eye contact with Logan. Yes. Yes, it did.

“Yeah, I have some ideas,” he grunted, finally managing to sit all the way up. “Let me see?” She passed him her phone, slipping shortly into fucking with him for taking so long like an old man with all this newfangled technology. It felt good for the moment, pushing off the weight of fear and grief. Even if other problems were apparent … and even more lurking nearby, undiscovered.